School celebrates legacy of Cook-Lapidus, Foundation trustee, alum and psychiatric nurse

June Cook-Lapidus, School of Nursing Foundation trustee, previous Foundation chair and Dean’s National Board of Visitors member emeritus, passed away Dec. 21. A “double Gopher,” Cook-Lapidus earned a master’s degree in nursing in 1978 and another master’s degree in psychiatric nursing in 1982. She worked in a private practice as a psychiatric nurse for several years, improving the lives of many with her therapy and counseling skills.

“June was incredibly committed to the School of Nursing. Not only did she grow philanthropic support for the school’s research efforts, she was the key leader in shaping and leading the school’s $45 million Empowering Health Campaign, the largest in school history,” said School of Nursing Development Director John Kilbride. “We are proud to count her as one of our most distinguished alums, for her contributions to mental health as a nurse practitioner, and for pushing the school to do it’s level best for the people and communities who were depending on us.”